Tiny Feeding Co. - Nurture Development & Lactation, LLC

09/11/2026

We’re so excited to share some big news from Tiny Feeding Co.!

Our Starting Solids Class is open for enrollment! Our next class is September 25th!

This fun, hands-on “eat and explore” style class is led by our feeding specialist and mom of 4 and is designed to guide you through everything you need to know as your baby begins solids while you also get to connect with other parents going through the same stage.

Each family will also go home with a “Solid Starts” book and silicone Barro meal set from , which includes a straw cup, bowl with lid, plate, and utensils. Everything you need to continue practicing at home!

Whether you’re feeling excited, unsure, or a mix of both, we’re here to walk alongside you through this milestone with confidence and care.

We can’t wait to meet you and your little one!

Spots are limited.

Prices will go up for our next class so reserve your spot today!!

Register here!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmeHn-FKqkCHtxEiP7hIxgnGnAied6hWSviwk8V9Pf8U3q4w/viewform

09/11/2026

🫳🎤……

09/10/2026

Before a NICU Baby Can Feed Orally, They Have to Show Readiness

In the NICU, a baby typically does not begin breast or bottle feeding simply because they reach a certain gestational age.

There are several milestones they need to demonstrate first, and even after oral feeding begins, readiness is assessed before every feed.

Before initiating oral feeds, a baby generally needs to demonstrate:

• Overall physiological and autonomic stability including stable respiratory and cardiovascular status, especially during cares

• Oral feeding typically is safe to start around 33 to 34 weeks gestational age, because this is about when suck swallow breathe coordination emerges, although it’s has a long way to go before fully developed.

• Low level of respiratory support: Being on a higher level of respiratory support such as high flow or CPAP can increase risk of swallow incoordination and aspiration

• Consistent feeding cues such as rooting, bringing hands to mouth, increased alertness, or sucking on pacifier. Most units look for cues during a certain percentage of care opportunities over a 24 to 48 hour period.

• Tolerance of enteral feeds without concerning emesis, significant feeding intolerance, or recurrent apnea, bradycardia, or desaturation events associated with feeds.

Before EVERY Oral Feed

We also ask

“Is baby ready to feed right now?”

And assess

-Physiological stability

Is the heart rate stable?

Is oxygenation stable?

Is the baby maintaining their respiratory status?

-Respiratory Status

Is the baby’s work of breathing appropriate?

Is respiratory rate appropriate to high for oral feeding?

-Temperature

Is baby’s temperature within an appropriate range? If a baby is cold, the first and most important step is to assess why they are cold, warm them, and if all is ok, feeding can happen once they are warm.

-Feeding readiness

Is baby alert?

Are they demonstrating feeding cues?

Is it safe to offer feed?

Ultimately, all of these things are assessed because the most important thing is safety with feeds.
Pushing a baby who is not demonstrating read ins be ready can increase safety risk and also actually increases time to full oral feeds.

09/10/2026

Before a NICU Baby Can Feed Orally, They Have to Show Readiness

In the NICU, a baby typically does not begin breast or bottle feeding simply because they reach a certain gestational age.

There are several milestones they need to demonstrate first, and even after oral feeding begins, readiness is assessed before every feed.

Before initiating oral feeds, a baby generally needs to demonstrate:

• Overall physiological stability including stable respiratory and cardiovascular status.

• Oral feeding typically is safe to start around 33 to 34 weeks gestational age, because this is about when suck swallow breathe coordination emerges, although it’s has a omg way to go before fully developed

• Low respiratory support being on a higher level of respiratory support such as high flow or CPAP can increase risk of swallow I coordination and aspiration

• Consistent feeding cues such as rooting, bringing hands to mouth, increased alertness, or sucking on pacifier other individualized cues. Some units look for cues during a certain percentage of care opportunities over a 24 to 48 hour period.

• Tolerance of enteral feeds without concerning emesis, significant feeding intolerance, or recurrent apnea, bradycardia, or desaturation events associated with feeds.

Before EVERY Oral Feed

We also ask

“Is baby ready to feed right now?”

And assess

-Physiological stability

Is the heart rate stable?

Is oxygenation stable?

Is the baby maintaining their respiratory status?

-Respiratory Status

Is the baby’s work of breathing appropriate?

Is respiratory rate appropriate to high for oral feeding?

-Temperature

Is baby’s temperature within an appropriate range? If a baby is cold, the first and most important step is to assess why they are cold, warm them, and if all is ok, feeding can happen once they are warm.

-Feeding readiness

Is baby alert?

Are they demonstrating feeding cues?

Is it safe to offer feed?

Ultimately, all of these things are assessed because the most important thing is safety with feeds.
Pushing a baby who is not demonstrating read ins be ready can increase safety risk and also actually increases time to full oral feeds.

09/09/2026

Have you heard about protected breastfeeding in the NICU?

This can be a valuable experience for mothers whose goal is to breastfeed as it allows mom and baby a period of time to focus only on building skills needed for successful breastfeeding.

For preterm infants an ng tube may already be in place to provide necessary nutrition, however, for late preterm infants or term infants, participating in protected breastfeeding might mean that an NG tube may need to be placed to avoid introduction of bottles.

This can be scary, but does offer the benefit of preventing baby from receiving a bottle early on in the breastfeeding relationship which has been shown to increase breastfeeding rates at discharge and beyond.

For some babies, protected breastfeeding may turn into exclusive breastfeeidng without the need to introduce a bottle.
For others, offering a bottle after breastfeeding might be necessary to allow infant to accept the volumes needed for weight gain and growth. In those cases, introducing a bottle with a try slow flow ni**le can be helpful to prevent difficulties with breastfeeding.

If you’re in the NICU and you have a goal of breastfeeding, it’s worth asking about participating in a protected breastfeeding period.

09/02/2026

We didn’t know we would have a nicu stay, but we planned for one anyway.

A NICU plan should be part of a birth plan to help moms and dads navigate the NICU stay so parents know how to advocate for their preferences so precious firsts aren’t missed and feeding preferences are known and protected from the start.

What makes things easier or harder during your move stay?

08/14/2026